This song really inspired me for this chapter for some reason… if that even makes sense.

The song is U R A Fever by The Kills. I highly recommend it to my readers, if you're curious as to what weird shit I listen to while writing.

Onward!

-[5]-

Once the blond synthetic told the Engineer what the woman wanted, he seemed to swallow his rage. There was a small pause as the two Engineers glared each other down, but Ellie's Engineer took heed of her begging. The alien seemed to grudgingly respect her wishes and slowly turned to exit the room. He spat some vicious sounding sentence at the instigating alien and then moved toward the exit. The doctor shot a disapproving glance at the more aggressive of the two aliens as they turned and left. She felt a bit brave walking next to a nearly seven foot body guard. David chuckled lightly as they followed after their friend into the main hallway,

"I can't believe that worked. You do have quite a voice of reason Dr. Shaw."

Ellie chuckled and shrugged off his complement and followed the Engineer down the main hall. In her heart, she was definitely happy that the Engineer hadn't gotten into another fight on her account. The last thing she needed was to show up at his home planet as the cause of a bunch of fights between their people.

The Engineer motioned with his hand as they walked for her to follow him passed their room. Without protest, the doctor and android followed him, always looking for something new to investigate or explore. David's head was on a swivel, observing the ships construct and the design of everything he passed. They walked through the ship until Ellie was certain they were lost in the identical steel halls. The tall alien surprised them when he led them to a huge dark room. The little lights along the hallway floor simply ended at the door, making this room almost completely un-lit. The room had to be thirty feet wide, a window on the far wall stretched the entire length of the room. The 'glass' went from the floor to the ceiling, and the only light came from a the stars and a small map appearing out of a coffee table looking thing. There was a large curved couch around the table, facing the huge glass windows.

David and Ellie both had the same reaction to the fabulous view of the stars, dropped jaws and wide eyes. Both of them looked like little children at an amusement park looking up to the largest roller coaster in awe. The android instantly walked around the sofa to get close to the star map hovering over the squatty table. The Engineer plopped himself down on the end section of the couch, taking a deep breath. The red haired woman walked over to the gargantuan window, putting a hand to the freezing fiberglass. Tall metal looking support pillars were the only blemish on the otherwise perfect view of the vast universe around were billions of stars around them, it was a breathtaking view.

"It's beautiful…"

She cooed, staring out at the wonderful view in awe. The android translated her small statement to the Engineer, he allowed a small smile to appear on his pale lips. The doctor was far to enthralled in the window to turn and take notice of his smirk. After a few moments of silent admiration, the woman casually walked over and sat beside the muscular alien. The space jockey's dark eyes were glued to her face, on which there was a giddy expression. She was ready for some more answers now, he could tell. David sat a couple feet to their right on the sofa, piddling around with the hologram map. The woman took a breath and then asked David for a translation,

"David, would you ask him what his name is?"

The question seemed to almost surprise the android, if he could actually feel such an emotion. It made sense though, she had been addressing him as an 'Engineer' the entire time. The synthetic automatically translated her question to him, a disturbingly human expression of surprise appeared on the Engineer's face. He seemed almost happy to have her ask such a thing. His eyes smiled for him since he wasn't the most expressive of creatures. He responded to the question with just a single word, just his name.

"Zarek."

The way he pronounced it, made the 'A' sound long. Ellie repeated the name back to him with a hinted confidence, hoping she didn't butcher it trying to say it,

"Zaa-rik?"

The Engineer nodded to her, making her a tiny bit proud at getting it on the first try. She then pointed to herself and spoke clearly,

"Elizabeth Shaw"

As soon as she said it, Zarek craned his head toward her slightly with a confused look playing his face. She chuckled and shook her head, realizing that was probably a bit much for him to speak on the first try.

"Ellie."

"Ellie?"

It gave her chills to hear him parrot her name. His voice had to be two octaves below any regular mans voice. It sounded like a grumble almost, and smooth like silk despite the guttural nature of his language. She grinned and nodded to him, shifting slightly on the couch. She sat on the edge of the thin cushion, her back straight up and her upper body facing him. The alien was leaning back with both of his arms up on the couch, relaxing after nearly getting into a fight again. David shot a brief glance over to the two of them, taking in their body language and making a mental note of how they were interacting. Something about the doctor and Zarek struck him as odd. There was something the both of them shared, but he couldn't quite put a finger on it.

The red haired woman then spoke to David again for a translation,

"Ask why he is defending me…"

As David translated, the Engineer seemed almost confused in his response. The android forced a laugh as he told Ellie what was said,

"He asks you: Is it not the right thing to do?"

The doctor leaned her head back a bit and breathed a sarcastic huff,

"Okay. I do recall him telling you that he perceived me as a 'captive or prisoner' earlier on LV-223. But ask him where we are going."

As Zarek understood the translation, he lifted a heavy hand and pointed out the window. The other duo immediately turned their heads to look where he was pointing. The android explained what was said,

"He said they're taking us home. Their home. Their leader would like to hear from a survivor of what happened on LV-223, this ship will take us home and allow him to get back to his home planet. It's another neighboring moon of one of the planets farther from the sun."

The space jockey nodded to her once David was finished explaining his words, like he was finishing the statement himself. The woman seemed excited, but also slightly nervous at the news. She knew that was going to be his answer, it just felt strange hearing it from him. She couldn't help but wonder what his planet was like, and what the common people's lives were like. It was hard to contain her giddy feelings. The red head felt a smile creep onto her face as she looked into the dark eyes of the alien,

"I like that name, Zarek. It's… unique."

The android told the Engineer what she had said regarding his name, and he nodded in thanks to her. He gave her chills again by saying her name to her once more.

"Ellie."

She stifled a giggle and sat back against the couch, looking out at the multitude of stars that painted the dark universe around them. It made her feel small. This universe was so large, so vast, she simply couldn't believe she was the only human out here making the journey. She was sitting here having a conversation with an alien. She felt like a teenage getting their first car, the urge to jump up and down and giggle like a school girl was difficult to resist. Better to contain this excitement and pent up energy, so as not to make Zarek think she was unstable or unpredictable.

The alien then asked her something, her head turned to him and saw that he had a remorseful expression on his face as he finished his question. The android sat up, looking over to Ellie as he hesitantly translated what he said,

"He apologizes for the events back on the base, and wants to know if you're afraid."

Both both male sets of eyes rested on her as she struggled to come up with an answer. She was definitely afraid, but not of the Engineers themselves. Not of Zarek anyway. She was afraid of making a mess by coming there. She wanted the opportunity to explore and make discoveries in this new culture. With a small sigh she shortened her answer as best she could,

"Not of you, just of being misunderstood."

Zarek seemed to understand what she meant, he responded accordingly. David stared out at the stars, continuing translating for the odd pair.

"He says that's good, he hopes you aren't afraid of him."

Ellie couldn't seem to get the smile off her face. It was stuck there as she briefly thought of how personable he really was. It was hard to believe this alien that she initially feared and respected was actually a kind, intelligent, and understanding being. Almost…Human. She then leaned back and reached over and nudged the synthetic's arm,

"Hopefully you aren't scare either David."

"It's okay… I'm fortunate not to have to feel such a thing."

The android joked with her, smiling as he began moving the star map; trying to find where they were now. That synthetic was always so nosy, inspecting everything.

The doctor bit her lip and stared out at the stars once again, it really was magnificent. With little thought, she slipped what was on her mind,

"I just hope they don't see me as just a lesser creation."

Without a second thought, the android deciphered her words numbly for the space jockey. The alien looked over at her, realizing she was in fact stressed about the journey there. His response surprised both of the others,

"He says you shouldn't worry about it, and that he'll protect you. Because it's the right thing to do, to him. The others may not feel the same."

His words had a mixed effect on the woman, her gaze fell to the floor in front of her. It reflected the starry window, her eyebrows furrowed together as she thought on what he said. The right thing to do? This alien had an impeccable sense of justice for what she thought a regular space jockey would have. It really seemed prominent in everything he did. Her next question would require quite an answer,

"What did he do on his home planet before he was sent out on that mission?"

After the translation of the question, the alien seemed to ponder for a few moments. She hoped it was for how to word it, and that he wasn't just making up something. His response was long, but very interesting. David seemed to think the same thing as he relayed the information,

"He said he was a guard…an officer. He protected the civilians from stray beasts from the forest and from criminals. He had been raised by his mother, who was most likely long gone by now. His father had been an officer as well, and had died during a small battle with some rogue Engineers when Zarek was very young. His father had sacrificed himself to prevent the rogues from landing on their home planet and raising hell for the common people, civil matters are handled immediately. The crime rate was almost nonexistent with the officers they had. He later volunteered to go on the mission for Earth, knowing the risks. It wasn't that he supported eradicating humans, he just went in honor of his father. When he went, everything went wrong. The biological weapon got out because of a mistake on their scientists part, and it turned them against each other. He and a few other healthy space jockeys were put in stasis and were going to be sent off with the ship to hopefully get into space before they were infected. He was supposed to come home. The Engineer that was supposed to launch the ship died before it could take off because of infection."

Ellie sat quietly for a few moments, feeling saddened by his story. It was tragic. He had woken up probably thinking he'd be home, or at least surrounded by his own kind. She couldn't imagine waking up and seeing the race you were sent to destroy. However, one particular part of what he said really hit home for her. She barely piped up,

"I'm sorry to hear about your parents, I lost my parents as well when I was young. It's… really hard."

She couldn't help but point out the loss of his parents, seeing as she knew exactly what that felt like. He had mentioned it in passing, and wasn't that emotional about it. But she knew. She knew that aching, hollow feeling inside once you lose your family. The world is ripped out from under you, and everyone comes to tell you they care and that they're there for you. But they aren't there forever, and someday you have to wake up and realize you must face the world alone now. Friends come and go, but your family was your blood.

The Engineer startled the doctor back from her thoughts by leaning forward and toward her slightly. The woman looked up at him with a hazy mix of contemplation and grief. She hated being reminded of the loss of her family, she knew too well how Zarek felt. A small motion from him made her inhale sharply, his huge hands took her left hand and placed it between both of his. His hands were soft and warm, it would be comforting; if she knew exactly what was going on. The alien looked into her eyes and spoke as soft as his low voice would allow in his language. The android was quiet for a few moments, making the anticipation much worse for her. Once David did speak, the eloquence of what the space jockey had said made her feel like she had been blind for years.

"He says; Losing family and loved ones is inevitable. There is not much room for softness in the universe. The weak go extinct. The old man that was one of those that woke him earlier, asked about immortality, while he was blind to what living forever really meant. The key to immortality is not some potion, or some medicine. It's children. They will live on in your likeness. With children, you'll live on forever."

Silence filled the room. Eyelashes fluttered over her elegant brown eyes as the woman stared at the alien in disbelief. The words stung her heart, but he was right. It wasn't something she had really sat down and thought of. She really hadn't considered this since she didn't have great chances of reproducing anyway. Sure everyone said your love would live on in your heart, but there was really some truth to what he said. With children, your likeness and blood would continue on forever. Humans just were too preoccupied to step back and realize this. The hunt for the fountain of youth was engrained into their DNA the entire time. Her hand felt almost tingly at the contact of his hands sandwiching hers gently.

The synthetic human behind her sat quietly as well, staring at the map while considering what the alien had just said. Never had he heard such a thing. Peter Weyland had been immortal the whole time, but was too blinded by greed and selfishness to realize it.

Brown eyes fell to her own small hand, between two huge pale hands. His hands were very large compared to hers, it made her hands look like a young childs. Zarek cupped her hand so gently, like he was afraid of bruising a flower petal. It was a previously unimagined tenderness, she didn't expect him to be capable of being so delicate with her. The alien slowly removed his left hand off of hers, and held it out to her. His palm was out, finger up, and she instinctively put her right hand out to mirror his. Although his hand was significantly bigger, it was the same as hers as their palms touched. His hand was nearly identical in every way. A wide smile appeared on her lips, wiping away any sadness she had felt earlier. They were really the same.

She knew she had so many more questions for him, but she figured she could narrow it down to one more. She had to know what that other Engineer's problem with her was,

"David, ask him one last thing. Why does that other Engineer dislike me so much?"

Once the synthetic asked Zarek, his eyes didn't move from her hand. He seemed to admire how small it was compared to his as he spoke, with David translating,

"He says, the hurt doesn't leave once loved ones are lost. Vengeance and spite are passed down by generations as a personality disposition when family injuries are involved. His extended family must have somehow been effected by the accident on LV-223. He couldn't say for sure, but family is the most important unit in their society. Compassion is key to a fully functioning society, especially from his standpoint, as an officer."

Ellie had nothing else to really say to the response. She now knew a tad more about their civilization, understanding how important family is to them. The alien slowly began to fondle and look over her dainty right hand, inspecting it like he was buying fruit at a grocery. The sight of Zarek being fascinated by her hand made her tickled for some reason, making her bust out laughing. The whole situation felt so casual to her. Even though she had just met him and got to actually know him somewhat, it was like they had been friends forever. Friends that didn't necessarily speak the same language. It felt like he was accepting her. He was allowing her to go under his wing to get her answers. This was the only connection she had to their world, and she wouldn't do anything to muck it up.

He slowly released her hand, looking at her eyes with an unreadable expression. There was just a hint of kindness in his face, something small. It seemed buried beneath his world weary and unemotional exterior. He had a hard heart, despite how kind he was to her. She instantly began to try and stifle her giggles at his fascination with her hand. It was really not as funny as she had made it.

"Ellie… It's okay."

He just spoke.. in English.

As soon as the English words escaped his mouth, her smiles and giggles ceased. The android behind her turned and looked toward Zarek with a very real look of surprise on his face. Had he really spoken to them in English? The doctor shook her head in utter shock at his words,

"How… It's not possible…?"

She mumbled, looking into his eyes with her mouth hung agape. David immediately asked how he learned the small phrase. The alien was almost wearing a smirk now, it was very small, almost unnoticeable on his features. Any hints of emotion were hard to distinguish on his face. It seemed like a practiced coldness.

With his right hand, he tapped with one finger in front of his ear while looking into the shocked woman's eyes. Her mouth slowly closed, still not believing that he had learned an english phrase so quickly. She knew he had to have a more advanced brain structure and method of learning, but she had no idea he could begin to grasp phrases by just listening to the language he didn't even speak. He must have heard her and David joking earlier, and understood what the context of the conversation was. His race really was more advanced than she had appreciated. He could have the potential to learn English much quicker than she could learn his language.

The sound of footsteps nearing made the trio turn back toward the doorway. The female Engineer that seemed to be in charge was standing in the doorway, looking at them with a look of slight disgust. She looked as though she didn't approve of them sitting about not doing anything while her crew was working. Not to mention the free ride to their home planet. She quickly stated something and observed them for a few moments. Zarek acknowledged what she said and then she left without another word. The red head's eyes moved to the engineer with a brimming curiosity lighting her face.

The male Engineer said something short, curt almost. David smiled that practiced animatronic smile, and blinked as he stared at the back of Ellie's head.

"Just a couple days left until arrival. LV-223 isn't too far from their home planet, seems to be just far enough to keep the major weapons at a safe distance."

This news made the doctor feel happy, but also a bit anxious. She didn't know what to expect when she landed. Would a lot of his people come out to greet him? Would they be afraid? What would they think as he walked in with her by his side? David interrupted her thoughts, as he often did,

"Are you ready for this Dr. Shaw?"

She felt almost offended that he would ask such a thing. Red hair whipped around her face as she turned back to look at him, the dim light of the map lighting his face in the darkness. Bright blue eyes were staring right at her now, she scoffed,

"Of course, If I hadn't been ready, I wouldn't have come."

The synthetic tilted his head and sort of shrugged his shoulders,

"I understand, but I hope you are taking into consideration that many of his people you are so eager to meet could react in the same was as the one from earlier."

A chill found its way up her spine at the thought of them all getting a hold of she and David and putting them to death in some way. She swallowed hard as she found her words, looking away from his hard gaze. He alway shad that penetrating stare, like he was trying to read every thought that went through her mind. After a deep breath, she articulated a response,

"I know I won't make it off that planet alive…I knew that the moment I decided to set foot inside this ship… But you can."

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I feel like I left something out of this chapter… if I did, my bad. I'll correct myself next chapter if I ever notice. /fail. I know it was a tad shorter than my others...

I'm ready for some planet exploring, hope you guys are too! I feel bad that this chapter was about just this scene, but I am trying hard not to rush things. And it was important! To me… lol. I have a habit of rushing everything once I get too excited about my writing. So forget the blah transport ship, lets see some civilization! Futuristic city time!

And some reviews! :D Thanks guys! I appreciate all of the feedback, thanks to you guests who I can't directly respond to as well.